Beyonce performed her song "I Was Here" on Friday at the United Nations

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Beyonce singing "I Was Here" at the United Nations General Assembly Hall, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.

Superstar singer Beyonce serenaded a different New York City venue: The United Nations.

Beyonce performed her song "I Was Here" on Friday in the UN's General Assembly Hall in honor of World Humanitarian Day, which is Aug. 19. A music video of the performance will debut the same day.

Beyonce sang in front of hundreds, including Julia Stiles, R&B singer The-Dream and songwriter Diane Warren, who wrote the song.

Warren said in an interview that she initially called Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z, and played the song for him over the phone. He quickly called Beyonce, and days later she recorded it. It appears on her album "4," released last year.

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Anderson Cooper hosted, saying with a laugh: "Is this what happens at the UN every Friday night?"